JEFFERSON DAVIS 

HISTORICAL ESSAY 
By 

//Z^ttf, ALICE S. MORRISON 



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PRINTED BY ORDER OF 

STONEWALL JACKSON CHAPTER, No. 20, U. O. C. 

WASHINGTON, D. C. 



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PRESIDENT 

STONEWALL JACKSON CHAPTER, No. 20, U. D. C. 

WASHINGTON, D. 0. 




OBVERSE 




Jefferson Davis Essay 



REVERSE 



THIS MEDAL WAS PRESENTtD THROUGH THE NATIONAL ORGANli'AT ON OF tHE 
UNITED DAUGHTERS OF THE CONFEDERACY, BY JESSICA RANDOLPH SMITH IN MEMORY 
OF HER FATHER, MAJOR ORREN RANDOLPH SMITH, DESIGNER OF THE 'STARS AND 
BARS," TO MRS. FRANK MORRISON, IN NATIONAL CONTEST, FOR HISTOR CAL ESSAY ON 
JEFFERSON DAVIS. 



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REAT men have lived and died, each 
striving for a cause, which he sincerely- 
believed to be for the betterment of 
humanity and posterity. So lived and 
died the revered, beloved Jefferson Davis, 
honored, scorned, persecuted and pitied. 
This great character, who wielded such a powerful 
influence in the stormy drama of the 60's, was a true 
exponent of Scotch-Irish Welch parentage, a race of 
great physical and mental strength, with natures of 
profound courage and tenacity, indomitable will power 
and great endurance. 

Jefferson Davis was born June 3, 1808, in Christian 
County, now Todd County, Fairview, Ky. His 
mother w^as Jane Cook and his Welch father, Samuel 
Davis, a Revolutionary War v^eteran, who served as 
an officer when the thirteen original colonies fought 
for "Taxation with Representation," which resulted 
in a glorious triumph and the birth of this great 
nation, The United States of America. 

Blood that flowed in the veins of Jefferson, had its 
origin in one, who had the courage of his convictions 
and would fight to establish them. 

When a little chap of tender years, the parents of 

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Jefferson, moved to the state of Mississippi, in Wil- 
kinson County, and here his father became interested 
in the cultivation of cotton, while the lad received 
a partial academic education at home. However, when 
very young, he entered the Transylvania University 
of Kentucky, and here, he remained until the age of 
16 years. 

His father, with the instinct of a soldier, desired 
that his son should have military discipline, therefore 
when leaving the university, Jefferson was commis- 
sioned by President Monrce, a cadet, to West Point 
Military Academy. Here he became a distinctive 
character in poise and personality, speech and ideals, 
among such classmates as Robert E. Lee, Joseph E. 
Johnston, Albert Sidney Johnston and others, whose 
achievements have won for them a lasting mark in 
the history of time. 

In July, 1828, young Davis left West Point, having 
earned a second lieutenancy, and the regard and con- 
fidence of his associates. 

He was a magnificent specimen of manhood, tall, 
strong and brawny in build, with a decided military 
bearing, a fine intellectual head, with a clear, high cut 
forehead and finely chiseled features. His courageous, 
quick step was ever ready for action, therefore, with 
those splendid requisites, he was destined to be a 
central figure in history and a leader of men. 

With his abilit}^ and courage, he soon won a First 
Lieutenancy and Adjutant of a new regiment of 
dragoons, in 1833. 

At this time the United States was having trouble 
with the Indians, and young Lavis was active and 
took part in the Black Hawk war ard the capture of 
the Chief, whcm he held in captivity, and of whcm, 
he won the esteem and affection. 

Later, Lieutenant Davis, mustered into service 
volunteers from Illinois, whose Captain was Abraham 

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Lincoln, to whom he administered Lincoln's first 
oath of allegiance to this country. 

After seven years of military service, Davis resigned 
and took up the growing of cotton in Mississippi, 
taking with him his bride, Miss Knox Taylor, daughter 
of General Zachary Taylor. 

I understand the General was not in favor of this 
union, as he thought Davis young and unestablished ; 
however, the couple were not long together, for within 
the year fever became prevalent and they visited in 
Louisiana to avoid an attack, yet Mrs. Davis succumbed 
and died, and Jefferson was very ill. 

After his recovery, he travelled several years until 
stronger, after which, he returned to his plantation 
and books, and for eight years, he devoted his atten- 
tion to the study of political philosophy and economy, 
public law and English Classics, and realized great 
wealth from his plantation. 

In the year 1843, at the age of 35, he entered the 
political arena, as a democrat, with the doctrines of 
John C. Calhoun, a political power and influence at 
that time. Davis was well prepared for the field into 
which he had entered, and he too, with his personal 
magnetism and argumentative, fluent tongue soon 
became a power. 

This same year he married again, Miss Varina Howell 
of Mississippi, granddaughter of Governor Richard 
Howell of New Jersey. 

Politically active for two years, he was elected to 
represent his district in the House of Representatives, 
but resigned and took command of the first regiment, 
leaving his state, Mississippi, when war with Mexico 
was declared. In this conflict, he served under his 
father-in-law. General Taylor, in the Northern cam- 
paign, and General Taylor had every reason, and was 
proud, of the relationship, for Davis was a most daring, 
gallant soldier at Monterey and Buena Vista, for which 

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service, President Polk, offered him a Brigadier Gen- 
eralship of Volunteers, which Davis declined. 

After a service of two years, he returned to his home 
and reentered politics, filling a vacancy by appoint- 
ment in the Senate, and later was reelected to that 
office. 

By both parties in the Senate, Mr. Davis was highly 
esteemed for his gracious manner, purity of thought, 
and eloquence of expression. 

His speech on establishing a government for Oregon 
Territory was famous. He argued that the government 
should protect an owner's property, no matter in what 
state; therefore, a negro slave fleeing to another state 
or territory was still the property of his owner, and 
Congress should recognize that ownership. 

Debates on the Compromise Measures of 1850, he 
opposed with all his energy, while his colleague, Henry 
Stuart Foote, the other Senator from Mississippi was 
in favor of these measures. 

In 1851, he resigned from the Senate and was a 
candidate in his own state for governor, on the Demo- 
cratic States Rights ticket against Senator Foote, the 
Union Democrat candidate. 

During his campaign, he temporarily lost his eye- 
sight, which prevented his personal canvass, so natur- 
ally the governorship was lost by a small majority. 

Still highly regarded and sought for his ability and 
information, he received the appointment of Secretary 
of War, under President Pierce in 1853, and his duties 
and obligations were executed with unusual skill and 
permanent benefit to the growing nation. 

Jefferson Davis was a likeable man, as well as an 
able one, and he made friends in all circles, thus in 
becoming a member of the official family, a strong 
friendship developed between him and President 
Pierce. He did have an influence with the President, 
but Pierce too, had a strong will, yet he did support 

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the Kansas-Nebraska Bill of 1854, which Davis greatly 
favored. 

After his term of office as Secretary of War expired, 
he was returned to the U. S. Senate and he influenced 
his party, to advocate the Federal Government's 
protection of slavery in the Territories. 

On the floor of the Senate, he consistently stood for 
States-Rights and argued the right of Secession. 

When his state decreed the right of Secession, he 
resigned his seat from the Senate and his impassioned 
farewell speech to his fellow colleagues was a most 
pathetic, appealing one. His parting words were: 

"A state finding herself in the condition in which 
Mississippi has judged she is, in which her safety 
requires that she should provide for the maintenance 
of her rights out of the Union, surrenders all the bene- 
fits (and they are known to be many), deprives herself 
of the advantages (they are known to be great), 
severs all the ties of affection (and they are close and 
enduring) which have bound her to the Union ; and 
thus di\esting herself of every benefit, taking upon 
herself every burden, she claims to be exempt from 
any power to execute the laws of the United States 
within her limits. 

"Then Senators we recur to the compact which 
binds us together ; we recur to the principles upon which 
our government was founded and when you deny them, 
and when you deny to us the rights to withdraw from 
a government which, thus prevented, threatens to be 
destructive of our rights, we but tread in the path of 
our fathers, when we proclaim our independence, and 
take the hazard. This is done, not in hostility to 
others, not to injure any section of the country, not 
even for our own pecuniary benefit but for the high 
and solemn motive of defending and protecting the 
rights we inherited and which it is our sacred duty to 
transmit unshorn to our children." 

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Thus departed Mr. Davis from the Senate never to 
return. 

The approaching feud between the North and the 
vSouth seemed inevitable, and the seceding states pre- 
pared. 

On the 25th of January, 1861, Jefferson became 
major-general of the forces of Mississippi. 

He was a soldier and his heart's desire was to fight 
for the Southland, but when the states, one by one 
seceded and established a provisional government, 
calling it the Confederate States of America, and 
unanimously elected Mr. Davis to be the President, 
he accepted the honor and privilege to serve his people 
in any capacity, he seemed best adapted, with the hope 
of establishing a new nation. 

With his fine, well trained, logical mind, his courage 
and military experience and service, together with his 
knowledge acquired in the political field, combined with 
the service rendered in the House and Senate of Con- 
gress, as well as his term of ofhce as Secretary of War, 
he was the one man best equipped for the office of 
President of the Confederacy. 

At this crucial epoch in the United States' history, 
and, as President of this new government, Mr. Davis 
may have made some errors in his stupendous under- 
taking, who is he that would not have, but, when we 
take into consideration that which was accomplished 
under his leadership and guidance, we realize the 
genius of Mr. Davis. 

In a short time factories sprung up in the South, a 
navy and army was raised, well trained and equipped, 
seemingly over night, and the most wonderful defense 
every known was made by the men, boys and women 
of the South, against an army much greater in size. 

If this conflict between the North and the South 
had been a victory to the Confederacy, Jefferson Davis 
would have been recognized, as one of the greatest 

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men that ever lived; nothing succeeds Hke success, 
but it was not to be, and thus the main actor of that 
tragic drama of the 60's, was branded by his enemies, 
as a traitor, thrown into prison, bound by heavy chains 
and made to suffer untold hardships, because he, like 
his father, had had the courage of his own convictions, 
and endeavored to establish them. 

After a long confinement, he was finally liberated, a 
broken man in health and form, but not in spirit. 

He travelled abroad and devoted the remainder of 
his days to writing, and seme of the most interesting 
books, reciting the history of the South, are the works 
of the President of the Confederacy. 

Davis indeed was endowed with a wonderfully strong 
constitution, for he lived to be 81 years of age, in spite 
of his prison life and suffering, of which he has so well 
written, depicting the solitude of the prison and his 
only companion, the tiny mouse, that ate his few 
stray crumbs, the only living thing that ever broke 
the monotony of the long tedious hours. 

Jefferson Davis died December 6, 1889, at New 
Orleans, La., leaving his wife and two daughters, 
Margaret and Varina Anne, known as Winnie Davis. 

It is to be regretted, that of all those who took part 
in the struggle to establish the Confederate States, 
Jefferson Davis, the elected leader, was the only one 
who lived and died, denied the right of citizenship 
to the United States of America. 

With ability we derive distinction and honor, dis- 
favor and sacrifice, and pay the penalty of failure, 
whether entirely responsible cr not. However, the 
posterity of the South should be taught to love and 
cherish the memory of the man who gave his all, for 
the South. 



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